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East Notes: Rangers, Mikkola, Malenstyn

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Earlier today, Rangers Head Coach Mike Sullivan told Mollie Walker of the New York Post that Vincent Trocheck is still not skating. Although they sit in the middle of the pack at .500, it has not been the smoothest of starts for New York, in a year where the group faces real pressure to turn the corner from a turbulent 2024-25. 

Trocheck appeared in the Rangers’ first two games before being injured vs Buffalo. Earlier it had been announced that the forward is week-to-week. Despite now being 32, Trocheck has been very reliable, being an 82-game player in his first three seasons in New York. Now the team hopes to have their vital center back soon. 

More injury news has come out of New York, as Colin Stephenson of Newsday confirmed that Noah Laba left tonight’s game vs Minnesota after taking a puck to the face. The rookie forward was helped off the ice, however, Stephenson went on to update that Laba has returned to the game. 

Elsewhere across the league:

  • David Dwork of The Hockey News noted earlier today that Panthers defenseman Niko Mikkola has returned to practice. Mikkola left Saturday’s game in Buffalo with an upper-body injury. The wear-and-tear of back to back Stanley Cups is certainly a possibility this year, for a Panthers group which has lost four straight games, already sorely missing Aleksander Barkov and Matthew Tkachuk. Thankfully Mikkola appears ready to help the team get back on track.
  • The Buffalo Sabres announced today that forward Beck Malenstyn will be absent for the next few days due to a personal matter. The team did not elaborate, however, Head Coach Lindy Ruff’s comments suggest it is likely due to paternity leave. 26-year-old Josh Dunne, an organizational depth forward, has drawn into the Sabres lineup in place of Malenstyn. 

Brad Marchand Fined $5K For Unsportsmanlike Conduct

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  • The Buffalo Sabres have rebounded in a strong way since their 0-3-0 start, rattling off consecutive dominant victories against two of last year’s playoff teams: the Ottawa Senators and Florida Panthers. While Zach Benson’s return from injury has greatly helped matters, leading the charge for the Sabres has been netminder Alex Lyon, who was signed for $1.5MM AAV this past summer to be the backup to starter Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen. Lyon has a .929 save percentage through five games this season, a mark that ranks third in the NHL among goalies with four starts or more. While Luukkonen is likely to remain the team’s go-to starter whenever he recovers from his injury, Lyon is putting together a strong case to receive an increased workload as a backup.
  • Florida Panthers forward Brad Marchand was fined $5K by the NHL’s Department of Player Safety today, for unsportsmanlike conduct committed in yesterday’s 3-0 loss to the Sabres. The unsportsmanlike conduct occurred midway through the second period when Marchand got into a scuffle with Sabres captain Rasmus Dahlin. Dahlin had cross-checked Marchand, and Marchand went after Dahlin as a result, delivering a few punches. Marchand was ultimately taken to the penalty box, but he travelled there with Dahlin’s helmet in hand, and once in the penalty box, Marchand proceeded to rip several straps off of Dahlin’s helmet and toss it back onto the ice. This is not the first time Marchand has gotten into trouble for an unconventional kind of unsportsmanlike conduct: during the 2018 playoffs, Marchand was officially warned by the league after he licked the face of then-Tampa Bay Lightning forward Ryan Callahan.

Injury Notes: Dickinson, Mikkola, Harkins

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Chicago Blackhawks centerman Jason Dickinson is day-to-day with an undisclosed injury and will be a game-time decision on Sunday, head coach Jeff Blashill told Charlie Roumeliotis of WGN Radio. Dickinson headed to the locker room partway through Friday’s game against Vancouver after receiving a heavy, awkward hit from Canucks winger Conor Garland. He returned, left again, then returned again throughout the remaining game – though it seems the injury is sticking around a day later.

Dickinson has been a core piece of one of Chicago’s best lines this season, centering fellow NHL veterans Ryan Donato and Ilya Mikheyev. The trio have outscored their opponents four-to-one in six games together, more than any other Hawks line. Dickinson sitting out of Sunday’s match against the Anaheim Ducks would force Chicago to break up their starting forward line against stingy competition. The Ducks sit with a 2-2-0 record and negative goal-differential (-3) but they’re led by legendary Blackhawks head coach Joel Quenneville and roster a long list of promising youngsters who can takeover games. Chicago has been thriving as of late – with a 2-1-1 record in their last four – but this injury news could bring that down.

Other injury news from across the NHL:

  • Speaking of Anaheim, bruising forward Jansen Harkins returned to the team’s practice in a no-contact jersey on Saturday, captured by Patrick Present of The Hockey News. Harkins is recovering from an upper-body injury sustained in a preseason match against the Los Angeles Kings on September 21. He was originally expected to miss about eight weeks, placing his return date still three weeks away. But already returning to practice could be enough to shorten that timeframe for Harkins. Then again, the Ducks may want to monitor their bottom-line bruiser a bit closer, after he ranked third on the team with 136 hits in 62 games last season.
  • Florida Panthers defenseman Niko Mikkola left Saturday’s match against the Buffalo Sabres with an upper-body injury. He sustained the injury after getting tangled up with Sabres winger Tyson Kozak and falling awkwardly into the boards. Mikkola only appeared in seven minutes of ice time prior to the injury. He remains without any scoring through seven games this season, though the physical impact Mikkola brings to each game will still be sorely missed should he have to sit out any more. He was a nightly feature in both of Florida’s Stanley Cup wins, and continues to play upwards of 24 minutes a night this season. That role will be tough to replace. Recent waiver claim Donovan Sebrango would be the next in line for ice time. He recorded 20 points and 79 penalty minutes in 50 games with the Belleville Senators last season, and has no scoring in four career appearances in the NHL.

Flames Assign Matvei Gridin, Activate Jonathan Huberdeau

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The Calgary Flames have assigned winger Matvei Gridin to the AHL’s Calgary Wranglers to make room to activate Jonathan Huberdeau off of injured reserve. Huberdeau has been sidelined since sustaining an undisclosed injury in a preseason matchup against the Vancouver Canucks on October 1st. He missed the first seven games of Calgary’s season.

Gridin played in the first four games of his NHL career to start the season, but found his way to the press box after posting one goal and a minus-three. He is among Calgary’s top prospects, and is set to become one of just six 19-year-olds in the AHL. A taste of NHL minutes, and continued pro challenge in the minors, could be exactly what Gridin needs to grow his game.

He looked fast and flashy in the QMJHL last year, posting 96 points in 72 games over the course of the Shawinigan Cataractes’ full season. That performance earned him the QMJHL’s ’Rookie of the Year’ award. The 2024 first-round pick spent two seasons in the USHL prior to his draft. He scored 99 points in 108 total games in the league. That includes a league-leading 83-point season in 2023-24, the second-highest scoring season in Muskegon Lumberjacks history.

While Gridin develops in the minors, Huberdeau will look to keep up his momentum from last season. He scored 16 points in 18 games to finish the 2024-25 season, pushing him to 28 goals and 62 points in 81 games on the year. It was Huberdeau’s highest-scoring season since he posted 115 points with the Florida Panthers in 2021-22. His dip in scoring with the Flames has shadowed his last three seasons, but he showed a click next to Morgan Frost and Matthew Coronato that could propel the Flames’ offense this season. Coronato currently leads Calgary in scoring, with three points in five games. Frost has two points.

Panthers Claim Donovan Sebrango

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The Panthers have claimed left-shot defenseman Donovan Sebrango off waivers from the Senators, Bruce Garrioch of Postmedia reports. Their active roster is full, so they must make a corresponding transaction.

Sebrango, 23, has just four games of NHL experience. All of them have come with the Senators this calendar year, making two appearances in 2024-25 and playing in their first two games of this season. He hasn’t been involved on the scoresheet, going pointless with a -2 rating and one hit while averaging 12:46 of ice time per game. Ottawa controlled 51.1% of shot attempts while he was on the ice at even strength despite two-thirds of his shifts starting in the defensive end, which are some promising early results.

This is Sebrango’s first season being waiver-eligible. Florida will be his third organization. He was a third-round pick by the Red Wings in 2020, but only recorded AHL and ECHL time in the Detroit organization before being sent to Ottawa in 2023 in the Alex DeBrincat deal. He’s a pending restricted free agent with arbitration rights after signing a two-way contract to return to the Sens late in the offseason.

The intrigue with Sebrango lies in his minor-league progression. En route to working his way onto Ottawa’s opening night roster for 2025-26, the 6’2″ lefty had a career year on the farm with Belleville last season. He served as an alternate captain for the AHL club with an 8-12–20 scoring line in 50 games. The hard-hitting rearguard also had 79 PIMs and a -4 rating.

There’s no coincidence that Florida’s claim lines up with their announcement earlier today that Dmitry Kulikov will be out through the trade deadline after undergoing shoulder surgery on a torn labrum. Sebrango will now get a crack at competing for Kulikov’s vacant spot on the left side of the Cats’ bottom pairing with Jeff Petry. Uvis Balinskis has that role for now after starting the season in the press box and appearing in all but six regular-season games for Florida last year, though, so he isn’t walking in uncontested.

Panthers’ Dmitry Kulikov Out Five Months Following Shoulder Surgery

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Oct. 15: Florida’s doctors have determined surgery is required for Kulikov’s injury. It was actual a labral tear in his shoulder, not a wrist issue, per the team’s Jameson Olive. The procedure carries a recovery time of five months, head coach Paul Maurice told Sean Shapiro of DLLS Sports. The team ended up recalling Björnfot from AHL Charlotte a few days after Kulikov’s IR placement, and it’s now clear he won’t be heading back to the minors anytime soon while he and Balinskis fill Kulikov’s shoes for what will be the vast majority of the regular season. A five-month return timeline puts Kulikov back in Florida’s lineup in mid-March, shortly after the trade deadline.

Oct. 11: The Panthers have placed defenseman Dmitry Kulikov on injured reserve due to an apparent right wrist injury, via Jordan McPherson of the Miami Herald. The team hasn’t made any comment on his status, so his return is unknown. They haven’t made a corresponding transaction, either.

Kulikov left Thursday’s game against the Flyers midway through the second period and did not return. He left the ice holding his right wrist after it got crunched while trying to check Philadelphia winger Bobby Brink against the wall in the neutral zone. The IR placement is backdated to then, meaning he’ll be eligible for activation on Oct. 16. Florida plays the Devils that night, but Kulikov has been automatically ruled out for three games in the interim.

It’s yet another blow to a skater corps that’s been decimated early in the season. The Cats survived preseason injury scares for Aaron Ekblad and Anton Lundell but didn’t avoid LTIR placements for Aleksander Barkov (ACL and MCL tear), Tomas Nosek (knee), and Matthew Tkachuk (adductor) to open the season. The defense started fully healthy to help compensate for the loss of forward depth, but they’ve now lost half of their veteran third pairing with Jeff Petry for at least a few games, if not more.

Uvis Balinskis will step into Kulikov’s spot as the lefty on that bottom pairing alongside Petry. Balinskis is a quality option to pull from the press box. He spent most of last season as Nate Schmidt’s partner until the acquisition of Seth Jones near the trade deadline pushed him down the depth chart and out of the regular playoff lineup. That wasn’t before the 29-year-old Latvian made 76 appearances in the regular season, posting a 4-14–18 scoring line with a -7 rating in 14:51 of ice time per game. Florida signed the 6’0″ lefty as an undrafted free agent in 2023, and he played in only 26 NHL games the year prior.

As for Kulikov, the 17-year veteran looks on track to continue posting stable results in a depth role for Florida. He only had a -1 rating and one hit through one-and-a-half games but posted good possession results on his unit with Petry, controlling 60% of expected goals, per MoneyPuck. Florida has also outattempted opponents 17-16 with Kulikov on the ice at even strength so far.

Kulikov will be 35 in a few weeks. The first-round pick by the Panthers back in 2009 isn’t the minute-muncher he was during his first stint in Florida, but he’s been a strong support piece and frequent penalty killer since returning to the club in free agency in 2023. He’s beginning Year 2 of a four-year, $4.6MM deal he signed last summer.

The IR placement leaves Florida with an open roster spot but doesn’t change their cap picture. The Panthers have $2.27MM remaining in their LTIR pool, though, more than enough to make a corresponding recall from AHL Charlotte. Atop their minor-league depth chart, particularly among lefties, is former Kings first-rounder Tobias Björnfot.

Summer Synopsis: Florida Panthers

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With the regular season now upon us, the bulk of the heavy lifting has been done from a roster perspective.  Most unrestricted free agents have found new homes, the arbitration period has come and gone, and the trade market has cooled.  Accordingly, it’s a good time to take a look at what each team accomplished over the offseason.  Next up is a look at the Florida Panthers.

The Panthers are poised to make history as they aim for their third consecutive Stanley Cup title this season. They are only the third team during the salary cap era to repeat as champions and hope to become the first to three-peat. It’s within the realm of possibility for the Panthers to make history, as they are bringing back almost all the key components of last year’s roster after Bill Zito orchestrated a masterclass by locking up key free agents below market value. While some might say it’s easier to attract players to a city with advantageous tax benefits, players hadn’t been eager to sign with the Panthers in the 25 years before 2022, which reflects the culture of winning that the team has fostered in Florida.

Draft

4-112 – LW Mads Kongsbak Klyvø, Frölunda HC (J20 Sweden)
4-128 – LW Shea Busch, Everett (WHL)
5-129 – RW Shamar Moses, North Bay (OHL)
6-192 – RW Arvid Drott, Djurgårdens IF (J20 Sweden)
7-197 – D Brendan Dunphy, Wenatchee (WHL)
7-224 – G Yegor Midlak, Spartak Moscow Jr. (MHL)

The Panthers didn’t get to pick until the fourth round of the draft, and with their first pick, they selected what they hope will be a power forward in Klyvø. The native of Frederikshavn, Denmark, is an above-average skater and is difficult to move off the puck thanks to a stride that relies on a low center of gravity. He doesn’t have high-end skill, but he could develop into a net front presence as well as a relentless forechecker.

Also in the fourth round, the Panthers selected another potential power forward in Busch. The North Vancouver, British Columbia native is strong on his skates and tough to knock off the puck. He has all the tools to become a net-front presence and has an underrated touch around the net.

In the fifth round, the Panthers chose to pick another forward in Moses. Moses is a savvy late-draft choice because he is the type of high-reward player who could develop into a skilled NHL player if his growth continues to progress nicely. Moses has good hands, solid vision, and a terrific shot, but whether he can carry these talents beyond the OHL remains uncertain. If he can, the Panthers might have found a steal.

In the sixth round, the Panthers selected another power forward in Drott, who may not stand out in any one area but has a well-rounded game. Drott willingly takes the puck to the net to create scoring opportunities and uses his solid frame to set picks, giving his teammates chances to score. He battles along the boards and in the defensive zone to gain puck possession and is likely to be popular with his teammates because of his selfless style of play.

Trade Acquisitions

G Daniil Tarasov (from Columbus)

The Panthers acquired Tarasov from the Blue Jackets in exchange for a 2025 fifth-round pick. It was a worthwhile gamble for Florida as they aimed to add depth behind Sergei Bobrovsky. Not long ago, many believed Tarasov was a future starter for the Blue Jackets, but after moving to North America, he was used sparingly, which slowed his development. Tarasov dressed in 21 games over his first two NHL seasons and never managed a prolonged, solid stretch of play. In the 2023-24 season, Tarasov found some consistency, posting an 8-11-3 record with a .908 SV% and 3.18 GAA. While his traditional stats weren’t remarkable, his underlying numbers told a different story—he posted a goals saved above expected of 0.0 in 24 games. Tarasov was likely a non-tender candidate in Columbus and is essentially playing for his NHL career this season. He will look to prove himself in Florida behind a much stronger team, which he hasn’t experienced during his brief NHL career.

UFA Signings

G Brandon Bussi (one year, $775K)*
F Nolan Foote (one year, $775K)*
F Noah Gregor (one year, $775K)*
F Luke Kunin (one year, $775K)
F Tomas Nosek (one year, $775K)^
D Jeff Petry (one year, $775K)
F Jack Studnicka (one year, $775K)*

*-denotes two-way contract
^-denotes re-signing

The Panthers faced the formidable challenge of starting the offseason with three key players from their championship roster about to become unrestricted free agents. General manager Bill Zito worked hard to secure long-term contracts for Brad Marchand, Aaron Ekblad, and Sam Bennett, leaving him with little to worry about on July 1st. Nonetheless, he still pursued inexpensive depth options, aiming to strengthen the lower end of his roster with the remaining cap space.

Petry was signed to play bottom-pairing minutes for league minimum, and he represents a worthwhile gamble given his resume. At 37, he is no longer a top-four defenseman, but given his role with Florida, he doesn’t need to be. In Detroit, Petry was averaging nearly 19 minutes per game, which was excessive considering his age and skill set. However, with the Panthers, it appears Petry will settle into roughly 14-15 minutes per game, which is more reasonable. He isn’t going to control play like he once did, but he should be a steady presence on the bottom pair, and if he isn’t, the Panthers can easily move on and look for another option.

Bringing back Nosek was an obvious choice for the Panthers, given the low cost and minimal maintenance required. Nosek is a straightforward forward who won’t score much but is steady and dependable on the fourth line. He is expected to play around 10 minutes a night once he recovers, but it seems likely that he will miss the first few months of the season. Versatile, Nosek can also fill in on the wing, but he shouldn’t be moved up the lineup and, unless injuries occur, he probably won’t be.

Kunin’s signing offers another affordable option who can play in the bottom six. The 27-year-old, surprisingly in his ninth NHL season, continues to find opportunities in the league but did take a significant pay cut for the upcoming season after earning over $2.75MM in each of the previous three years. Kunin hits hard and has no trouble reaching the front of the net, which will be valuable in Florida, where he will play alongside skilled depth players who can pass the puck to that area. While Kunin won’t produce much offense, he can contribute on the forecheck and serve as a leader in the Panthers’ dressing room. They could certainly improve by finding a more skilled option than Kunin, but given where the team stands, his signing aligns with their current needs.

RFA Re-Signings

D Mike Benning (one year, $775K)*
D Toby Bjornfot (one year, $775K)*
F Mackie Samoskevich (one year, $775K)
F Wilmer Skoog (one year, $775K)*
G Daniil Tarasov (one year, $1.05MM)

*-denotes two-way contract

The Panthers didn’t have much work to do this summer on the RFA front since most of the deals they signed were two-way contracts with cap hits at the NHL minimum. The exceptions were Samoskevich and Tarasov, who both signed one-way contract extensions.

After finishing 11th in Calder Trophy voting for rookie of the year, Samoskevich was probably hoping to secure a contract above the NHL minimum. However, with his 10.2(c) status, he lacked significant leverage in negotiations. He chose a guaranteed one-way salary instead of a two-way qualifying offer, which would have provided a higher NHL salary but only a fraction of the league minimum if demoted to the AHL. While this is a bit of a setback for a player who had a strong rookie season, it opens the door for the 22-year-old to earn significantly more next summer when he has more rights as a restricted free agent. Hopefully, the Panthers will also have more room under the salary cap by then. Samoskevich scored 15 goals and 16 assists in 72 games last season and has already had a strong start this year. If he can improve on last year’s production, he might be looking at a multi-year deal with a salary five times (or more) his current $775K rate.

Departures

G Brandon Bussi (claimed off waivers by Carolina)
F Rasmus Asplund (signed in Switzerland)
G Evan Cormier (signed with AHL Charlotte)
G Kaapo Kahkonen (signed with Montreal, one year $1.15MM)
D Matt Kiersted (signed with Minnesota, two years $1.55MM)*
F William Lockwood (unsigned free agent)
D Jaycob Megna (signed with Vegas, two years $1.6MM)
F Jesse Puljujärvi (signed in Switzerland)
D Nate Schmidt (signed with Utah, three years $10.5MM)
F Justin Sourdif (traded to Washington)
F Nico Sturm (signed with Minnesota, two years $4MM)
G Vitek Vanecek (signed with Utah, one year $1.5MM)

*-denotes two-way contract

The most significant loss for the Panthers came in the form of defenseman Schmidt, who turned a solid season in Florida into a multi-year deal at $3.5MM per year. The Panthers couldn’t have asked for more from Schmidt, who arrived after a buyout and was excellent in a third-pairing role. The 34-year-old remains a decent playmaker, responsible with the puck, and capable of defending the zone, especially against entries and plays on the rush. As long as he isn’t asked to play too much in Utah, his signing should be a win for them. It did create a hole for Florida, but that’s what happens when depth players outplay their contracts and need to go elsewhere to get paid.

Sturm was another depth loss for the Panthers, but he likely wasn’t part of their long-term plans after he was acquired at last year’s Trade Deadline. Sturm remains a solid faceoff man who can still skate and get in on the forecheck. He will never produce much offense, topping 20 points just twice in his seven-year NHL career, but he battles hard for the Wild and lays the body fairly often. The Panthers shouldn’t have trouble replacing his production, and if they can’t find a suitable replacement, they should be able to acquire a depth player midseason to fill the gap.

Finally, the Panthers decided to let goaltender Vanecek go in favour of Tarasov, who will serve as the backup for now. It’s uncertain if Tarasov can handle the role, but Vanecek wasn’t exactly a reliable option either, posting modest numbers over the last two seasons with three different teams. Vanecek’s underlying numbers last year were probably worse than his traditional stats, as he recorded a -8.5 goals saved above expected in 25 games, indicating he was a below-average choice in limited duty. Suppose the Panthers need to find a goaltender later in the season. In that case, they should have no shortage of backup options, as players like Alex Nedeljkovic and possibly Vanecek will be available at a low cost.

Salary Cap Outlook

The Panthers are technically over the salary cap this season by about $6.1MM, but have Tkachuk and Barkov on LTIR for now. Tkachuk will return at some point this season, while Barkov could be out for at least seven months or more, which means he might return for the playoffs. The LTIR placements give the Panthers roughly $2.267MM in cap space (all figures via PuckPedia), allowing them to navigate injuries and call-ups and possibly make a midseason addition to their lineup. It’s not a ton of room for Florida, but their roster is pretty set as it is.

Next summer, the Panthers will have over $18MM available in cap space with 15 players signed, which means they will need to do some work. Goaltender Sergei Bobrovsky is a UFA and should demand a significant deal, which could use up half of the available cap space.

Key Questions

Can they win a third straight Stanley Cup?

It would be silly to dismiss the Panthers this season, considering they’ve won back-to-back titles and reached three consecutive Stanley Cup Finals. However, the odds are against them in several ways this year. The injuries to their top players are difficult to overlook (we’ll address them later), and at some point, fatigue will likely catch up with them. Many forwards will need to play beyond their usual roles, which will be hard on their bodies, especially against more formidable opponents than they’re used to. Add to that the fact that many Panthers players have played a lot of hockey over the past three years, creating numerous challenges they must overcome to win another championship.

How will they navigate Barkov’s injury?

How do you navigate losing one of the best players in the world for an entire season? The Tampa Bay Lightning achieved this in 2021 for two-thirds of a season (a pandemic-shortened season) and made it work. But just because it worked elsewhere doesn’t mean it will work here. Florida will need the likes of Sam Reinhart, Carter Verhaeghe, Anton Lundell, and Eetu Luostarinen to elevate their games to the next level and take on a heavier workload, as the team may need to adjust lines to address holes created.

When will Matthew Tkachuk return?

Tkachuk is expected to be out until December, although GM Bill Zito’s timeline seems more like his best guess. Tkachuk is sidelined with a torn adductor muscle and a sports hernia on the same side he injured during the 4 Nations Face-Off. His absence isn’t definite, but it seems unlikely to extend past January, given that the 2026 Olympics are approaching. Tkachuk is expected to return in the latter half of the season. Although the Panthers will face challenges with him and Barkov out for an extended period, they should have sufficient depth to remain competitive in the standings.

Photo by Sam Navarro-Imagn Images

Brett Leason Signs AHL PTO With Charlotte

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Last season, unrestricted free agent winger Brett Leason saw some regular action with Anaheim, primarily slotting in on their fourth line.  However, no firm contract has come his way just yet so to get back on the ice and playing, he has signed a PTO contract with AHL Charlotte (affiliate of the Panthers), per a team release.

The 26-year-old played in 62 games with the Ducks last season where he notched five goals and 12 assists in just under 13 minutes a night of playing time.  That output was a little below his 2023-24 output when he had 11 goals and 11 helpers in 68 contests.  While Leason was non-tendered at that time to avoid arbitration, he quickly re-signed a one-year, $1.05MM contract.  This past summer, Anaheim simply non-tendered him and moved on.

Leason took part in training camp with Minnesota on a PTO agreement and got into four games with them where he was held off the scoresheet before being let go at the end of September, sending him back to the open market.

This will be Leason’s first taste of AHL action in a while.  The last time he saw time in the minors was back in 2021-22 with Hershey when he was still in Washington’s system.  He has 18 goals and 29 assists in 114 games over parts of three seasons at that level and will look to have a strong showing there to help lock down a guaranteed contract for the rest of the season.

Panthers Recall Tobias Bjornfot

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With Dmitry Kulikov being placed on injured reserve back on Friday, the Panthers had an open roster spot at their disposal.  They’ve now filled that spot as they’ve recalled defenseman Tobias Bjornfot from AHL Charlotte, per the AHL’s transactions log.

The 24-year-old was an injury recall a couple of times last season, seeing stints with Florida back in January and March last season, getting into 14 games overall where he was held off the scoresheet while averaging just over 13 minutes per game.  For his career, Bjornfot has a goal and 14 assists in 134 NHL appearances between Los Angeles, Vegas, and Florida.

Bjornfot played in three games with the Panthers in the preseason but cleared waivers last weekend, paving the way for him to return to the Checkers.  This stint lasted all of one game and if Kulikov is indeed out longer term as expected, he may be up with Florida for a while this time.  Bjornfot had 18 points in 50 games at the AHL level last season.

With Florida deep into using LTIR (with Matthew Tkachuk, Aleksander Barkov, and Tomas Nosek), they’re not banking any cap room right now, meaning that Bjornfot’s recall doesn’t do much beyond cutting into their current LTIR space.  That sits at just over $1.49MM, per PuckPedia, meaning they have enough cap space for one more recall if more injuries arise.

Panthers Sign Jonah Gadjovich To Two-Year Extension

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The Florida Panthers have agreed to a two-year contract extension with left-winger Jonah Gadjovich. The deal will carry a $905K cap hit, per Sportsnet’s Elliotte Friedman. Florida announced the deal on Gadjovich’s 27th birthday

Few Panthers have a role as defined as Gadjovich’s. He is the team’s go-to enforcer, with a tremendous 164 penalty minutes in just 81 games between the 2023-24 and 2024-25 seasons. Only two players across the league – Austin Watson and Matt Rempe – averaged more penalty minutes per game played in that span, and Gadjovich still recorded more total PIMs than both. He scored just eight points in the same stretch, and added three points and 33 PIMs in 16 playoff appearances.

Interestingly, Gadjovich has found a way to avoid the penalty booth to start this season – instead boasting one assist and a plus-one in three games. He has not been one for hte positive side of the scoresheet at the NHL level. Through parts of six NHL seasons, Gadjovich has only managed 19 points in 163 career games. He’s racked up the penalties, though, earning 17 PIMs in his NHL debut with the Vancouver Canucks in 2020-21 and since raising that number to 312 PIMs on his career.

While he’s found a clear way to be productive in the NHL, Gadjovich wasn’t always the default hitter in his lineup. He has racked up 46 points and 81 PIMs in 103 AHL games, and stood out as a dangerous scorer in junior hockey, with 89 goals, 155 points, and 175 PIMs in 228 OHL games.

But those days seem to be in the past. Gadjovich has evolved into Florida’s go-to option when they need a big hit, or big fight, to help turn the tides. He fills important fourth-line minutes and will now stick in that spot for two more seasons. That role has already led Gadjovich to two Stanley Cup wins, and should continue to be profitable as the Panthers have yet to lose this season.

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